This week we celebrate National Women Physicians Day! The third annual day of recognition on Feb. 3 was founded by emergency medicine physician Hala Sabry, DO, in 2016. It commemorates the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first American woman to obtain a medical degree. To celebrate the struggles women have overcome in medicine and the journey forward, The DO rounded up 10 of our favorite stories about women in medicine.
1. Empowering women one patient at a time, the osteopathic way
Shayna Mancuso, DO, is an advocate in action for women’s health and healing from the inside out.
2. Let’s narrow the pay gap: Female doctors may have better patient outcomes
Studies find that patients treated by women doctors may have better outcomes, yet female physicians are still getting paid less.

3. Q&A: The DO who founded National Women Physicians Day
Meet the woman who started it all. Hala Sabry, DO, explains why she feels it’s important to celebrate women in medicine.

4. New PBS documentary covers women in osteopathic medicine
The PBS documentary, “The Feminine Touch: Women in Osteopathic Medicine,” tells the story of women who rose above inequality to become DOs at the beginning of osteopathic medicine and the women today who continue the legacy. The film also won a regional Emmy award.

5. Academic medicine: This DO found her calling in the classroom
Stacey Pierce-Talsma, DO, is changing the practice of medicine one student at a time.

6. ‘Courageous impact’: Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, trailblazer for women and minorities, retires
The DO talks with the first African-American woman to be named dean of a U.S. medical school about her impact on the osteopathic profession.

7. Maneuvering motherhood and medicine: DOs share advice
Two DO moms share the rules they live by: Practices they say have made balancing motherhood and medicine less stressful.

8. Kentucky DO delays giving birth to help distressed patient
When another expectant mom needed help, Amanda Hess, DO, pivoted from patient to doctor in seconds.

9. In Anchorage, DO dedicates career to Alaska Native health
Ellen Provost, DO, uses epidemiology and biostatistics to improve public health in the Alaska Native people.

10. Motherhood and medicine: DO’s group for doctor moms has 65,000 members
Hala Sabry, DO, created the group as an effort to ease the pressure many women face to choose between being a mom and being a doctor.
2 comments
Women are Amazing And I think all genders should be equal.
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